LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Lancaster stepped off at the Conestoga Valley High School Friday morning and will continue throughout the evening to raise awareness of different forms of cancer and try to put an end to it. Around 400 survivors, caregivers, family, and friends came out to walk the track in honor of those who beat the disease and those who passed.
“The American Cancer Society uses dollars to fund research and programs for patients and their families,” said Jasmine Rakszawski with Relay for Life.
The funding goes towards conducting breakthrough research, providing education, essential services to patients and advocating for the needs of cancer patients throughout their journey. Rakszawski said that support is needed because cancer has impacted people in many ways.
“Cancer affects everyone. We all know someone or know of someone who is battling or has battled this disease,” said Rakswzawski.
One participant and survivor, Maritza Acevedo, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. Acevedo said the journey was hard and that the diagnosis came out of left field. Her sister also passed away from breast cancer and Acevedo said she knew she had to fight the disease.
“I wanted to fight for my life and to keep taking care of my daughters and my family and that’s what I decided to do,” said Acevedo.
Her daughter, Yaritza Avalos, was graduating high school at the time and was entering college. Avalos said that she wanted to be by her mother's side so she became her caregiver that way Acevedos didn’t have to do treatment, checkups, and her journey alone.
“I know as a daughter that was my role that I had to play. I couldn’t just leave her,” said Avalos.
Avalos said that she would take her mother to treatment, go to school, and then return to the doctor's office to pick her up. Like many caregivers, Avalos said that it’s important for people to educate themselves on different kinds of cancer because they may never know when the disease will impact their lives.
“We didn’t know how difficult this journey would be for everyone-- for the caregiver, the family, and for the family,” said Avalos.
On Friday, Acevedo and her daughter did the relay so they could continue bringing awareness to the different kinds of cancers and tell their story about how research and funding helped them through their journey.
The York Relay for Life will take place next Saturday, June 8 at WellSpan Park. Details and information can be found here.
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